The 14th International Summer Course Update in Bioethics will be held from June 30 to July 10, 2015. The course is organized by the School of Bioethics of the Regina Apostolorum (APRA) and the Faculty of Bioethics of Universidad Anáhuac Norte, in collaboration with CESAB. The title of the course is: “Bioethics, Environmental Issues and Human Ecology.”

Although bioethics since the 1970s has addressed issues tending toward the biomedical, it had in its origins, in the thinking of some of the pioneers, a strong interest in environmental issues. The deepening ecological crisis necessitates, again and decisively, that this modern science examines this question. The course is therefore intended to deal with an interdisciplinary methodology on such issues of great public interest as pollution, resource management, the energy issue, climate change, biodiversity, environmental biotechnology, and animals. It is evident, however, that if these issues are the responsibility of bioethics, solutions cannot and should not be completely of a technical nature. To go to the roots of the environmental crisis and then to find the guidelines for effective solutions, we must broaden our vision to include ethics, anthropology, theology: what is the place and role of man in the environment; how to discern the ethical nature of human behavior towards animals; and ultimately, where is the foundation of respect we owe to the non-human world. The course will show finally the Christian vision of the environment, which provides valuable guidance to the balance between conservation and development within the pastoral care of creation in respect of that original mandate to Man to “till and maintain.” Where in fact human ecology is respected, the environment is the prime beneficiary.

The summer course is geared towards physicians, healthcare workers, those involved in biotechnologies, science teachers, priests and religious, jurists and those interested in cultural debates.

The course is divided into two thematic modules. Participation can be in the whole course or either of the modules. All participants will receive a certificate of participation (from the Secretariat of the School of Bioethics).

Module 1: 30 June – 3 July

Module 2: 6-10 July.

The summer course is integrated into the Licentiate program in Bioethics. Each of the two modules can receive 3 ECTS credits.

The course will be offered in Italian and English with simultaneous translation into Italian, English and Spanish.